From the Editor:

Has It Been 10 Years Already?

In this issue of Reflections Magazine, we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of our President, Sister Peg Albert.

Because I arrived at Siena Heights a few months before her, I’ve had a “front-row seat” of sorts to her presidency, and all that has happened during her time at SHU.

I had the privilege of introducing her to the Siena community at her opening press conference (I tried to act like I knew what I was doing back then). Being the first Adrian Dominican president in more than 30 years at Siena Heights, I remembered thinking, “this is history in the making.”

And the impact of her arrival was immediate. Things started happening. A lot of things. We’ve documented many of those “things” over the past decade in this magazine. But taking a step back, it truly is remarkable what has been achieved when put into the perspective of our 97-year history.

From the Editor:

Alumni, Keep Those Stories Coming!

I continue to be amazed at the alumni of Siena Heights University.

During the most recent Homecoming Weekend, I had a front row seat for both the alumni awards ceremony and the athletic hall of fame banquet. Those who were honored had some astounding stories to tell.

Katie Guilbault Decker, ’89 was honored with an alumni award for her work in transforming a struggling inner-city school in Las Vegas into one of the most successful in Nevada. In her acceptance speech, she talked about how the Adrian Dominicans made her Siena Heights education happen. Not able to afford the tuition, she spoke through tears about how the Adrian Dominicans stepped in and paid for her tuition, allowing her to earn her degree in teacher education, and go on to become the award-winning principal she is today.

Then there’s the story of small-town boy Adam Hartle ’06. A promising pole vaulter from the tiny farm town of Homer, Mich., he was garnering some Division I attention before he suffered a broken back. After doctors advised him that he should never compete again, most of the schools who were recruiting him left the picture. Not Siena Heights. Again, through a tearful Hall-of-Fame acceptance speech, Hartle talked about how Siena Heights and coaches Tim Bauer and Mark Dooley believed in him. The payoff: Hartle went on to become a national champion pole vaulter for the Saints. And most importantly, he earned his degree and is a successful and productive member of society.

From the Alumni Office:

Jenny Engle ’12, ’15/MA<br />Director of Alumni Relations — Jenny Engle ’12, ’15/MA
Director of Alumni Relations

**Ready and Waiting to Hear Your Siena Stories!**

It was this time last year when I was chosen to be the Director of Alumni Relations. I came to the Alumni Office with four years of experience working in Advancement at Siena Heights. I had been a non-traditional undergraduate student and was a current graduate student when I accepted the offer. I sit here today and reminisce on all that I love about Siena.

I am thrilled that I work for, and have been educated at, an institution that truly lives its mission—to assist people to become more competent, purposeful and ethical through a teaching and learning environment which respects the dignity of all.

On my first official day in the Alumni Office in mid-November, I learned quickly that while I can start each day with a plan—that plans don’t always go as expected and that I would need to be flexible.

The unplanned part of that first day was also the best part of that day. I had an unexpected visitor—a member of the class of 1976. This alum had not been back to campus since graduation nearly 40 years ago. He was in the area visiting, and stopped in looking for contact information of a former classmate he was hoping to connect with. We spent some time chatting about his experience at Siena and talking about all of the changes that have occurred over the years. He seemed genuinely happy to be on campus, and pleasantly surprised by the different look and growth of Siena Heights.